Our History
The AVCS History
The Almaden Valley Youth Counseling Service (AVYCS) was founded in 1980 based on a community concern that adequate counseling services were not available for youth of the community. This was in large part due to the withdrawal of school counselors on school campuses due to Proposition 13 but the final impetus was two tragic teen suicides.
AVYCS opened its doors in the basement of Joint Ventures Church with a part-time director/counselor, moving to its current office location on Crown Boulevard in 1985. In 1999, AVYCS changed its name to Almaden Valley Counseling Service (AVCS). To date, nine directors have followed serving youth, adults, families and couples by providing counseling and support for high risk kids and teens, strengthening families, parenting classes, couples in crisis, on-site school based therapy (in over 40 schools), older adults with loss, and other mental health needs.
Many AVCS counselors have a Master’s Degree in Counseling or Clinical Psychology and are pursuing their hours towards licensure as Marriage and Family Therapist through the AVCS associateship training program. Other AVCS counselors are trainees who are providing services with us in order to complete their Master’s Degree in Counseling or Clinical Psychology. The supervised clinical experience that both types of counselors need to complete the state mandated licensor requirements is provided by AVCS. Recently rental space has been opened up to licensed therapists for their individual practices at the AVCS offices.
In the earlier years much fundraising was done by the Auxiliary along with grants received from Almaden Valley Women’s Club, IBM, Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services, Xilinx, El Camino Health, Kaiser Permanente, Sharks Foundation, and Cisco to support AVCS and its growth in providing mental health service to the community. The Auxiliary’s fundraising played a big part in earlier years not only to provide operating funds for the agency but to bring the community together through the Snow Ball fashion show luncheon, dinner and tea, the Almaden Times Classic 5k and 10k run, Home for he Holidays home tour, and Santa’s Breakfast. Today most funding is provided through school counseling contracts, client fees, grants from corporations, foundations and other organizations, and individual donations as AVCS serves hundreds of students, individuals, family and couples throughout Santa Clara County.
Our original mission was to provide counseling services, free of charge, to residents of Almaden Valley. Currently, there are no geographical boundaries and a sliding fee scale ($35-$95) was developed with our mission to provide affordable services to ALL ages ~ to support and promote personal growth, positive family relationship and emotional well-being.
“If you have not heard of Almaden Valley Counseling Service please look them up. They have been quietly helping youth and families with mental health and social issues for 35 years. This great nonprofit spends their dollars wisely and helps over 1800 youth and families annually. It was my honor to recognize their work today.”
–Johnny Khamis, San Jose City Councilmember (2015)
Year | Overview | Budget | Board Chair |
2020 |
Responded quickly to COVID-19 pandemic by connecting with clients, schools and students to continue counseling through telehealth sessions |
Caryn Fabian | |
2019 |
Provided over 650 hours/week of counseling in 40 schools and 250 hours of parenting support to families |
$883,381 | |
2018 |
Served 45 schools in 7 districts |
$837,629 | |
2017 |
Over 30,000 counseling hours provided by more than 42 interns and 12 supervisors |
$743,139 | |
2016 |
Over 40 schools contracted for COC |
$774,625 | |
2015 |
Received commendation from San Jose City Council for 35 years of community service |
$630,660 | |
2014 |
Agency switches to electronic health records platform |
$459,940 | |
2013 |
564 COC students served |
$438,000 | Jayne Kwon |
2012 |
Dept. of Social Services, SCC grant received |
$417,750 | Christian Nielsen |
2011 |
More schools added to COC Program |
$380,851 | |
2010 |
Broomstick Ball is held with AVCS as a grant recipient |
$340,988 | Brendan Coveney |
2009 |
Received first COC school district contract from SJUSD |
$345,580 | |
2008 |
521 Clinic clients and 426 COC students served |
$305,657 | Robin Root |
2007 |
At this time, AVCS has served over 10,000 clients with 146 interns working in our programs |
$367,062 | Jerri Kazmierczak |
2006 |
178 Clinic clients and 381 COC students served |
$321,011 | Adron Beeney |
2005 | Sliding scale fees are now $20 – $75/hour 21 schools in COC Program with 682 students seen for a total of 3,433 sessions Staff includes 25 interns, 10 supervisors, 8 licensed therapists |
$316,540 | Steve Kitrosser |
2004 |
876 clients receive 7500 hours of clinical service |
Gwen Hacker | |
2003 |
Participated in Westfield Tile Project |
$234,579 | Elena Agostino |
2002 |
Home for the Holidays home tour event is held |
$211,787 | |
2001 |
Geriatric Advisory program (GAP) developed by Cathleen Starr |
$202,708 | Matt Giampaoli |
2000 |
20th Anniversary Celebration |
$195,495 | Marjorie Rasmussen |
1999 |
Name changes to Almaden Valley Counseling Service (AVCS) |
$185,734 | John Redding |
1998 |
Website developed |
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1997 |
Snow Ball is now biannual event |
$168,000 | Marc Buller |
1996 |
Community forum is Hanging Out and No Place to Go, Teen Loitering |
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1995 |
Community forum is a Parent/Youth Seminar |
$154,000 | Donna Dawson |
1994 |
Community forum on Teenage Parties |
Lisa Chaney | |
1993 |
Community forums on Gang Awareness and Teen Violence |
David Byers | |
1992 |
Expansion of offices to include a family therapy room and a children’s art/sand tray therapy room |
Jackie Whitlock | |
1991 |
407 COC students servedSmokeless Saturday School, smoking cessation classes start |
Barbara Anderson | |
1990 |
10th Anniversary Celebration |
$122,600 | Sheryl Stroh |
1989 |
296 students seen through the COC Program |
Linda Neilsson | |
1988 |
Grant from IBM purchases a computer for the office staff |
Pam Darin | |
1987 |
Castillero, Steinbeck and John Muir Middle Schools join COC Program |
Sally Tillmans | |
1986 |
Gunderson High School joins the COC Program |
Art Darin | |
1985 |
Facility moves office to Crown Boulevard |
$50,000 | Rich Crowley |
1984 |
AVYCS is officially incorporated |
Dee Eberle | |
1983 |
Staff has grown to 4 interns and consultant supervisor |
Sandy Engel | |
1982 |
501(c)3 non-profit status is granted and first intern clinician begins |
Guy Miller | |
1981 |
Funding received from the Almaden Valley Women’s Club |
Pat Dando | |
1980 |
AVYCS is formed under the direction of Bob Martin and members of Joint Venture Churches |
$6,689 | Bob Martin |